SUMMARY: In which Kagome has a bit of a crisis and the Lord of the West picks up the pieces...


The call had come midday.

Opening the door to the small, local coffee shop a few blocks from their home, Sesshoumaru braced himself for the inevitable. It was immediate, this assault on his sense of smell. Salted caramel, mocha, vanilla, coffee, and other odors blasted him without mercy, the worst of it being the cloying scents of sugar and artificial sweeteners that hung in the air. That was always an unwelcome punch to the face.

It is as if someone set a piñata on fire and left the melted sugar on every visible surface.

He couldn't help it and shuddered.

This is what a dead unicorn would smell like.

The macabre thought made him smirk, and he stepped in further, trying to focus on the robust aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans instead. But that's when he caught another scent—one that didn't belong.

Tears.

He saw her immediately, a gaudy, pink and purple vision in the corner of the shop, and his stomach clenched. Her face was buried in her hands, elbows resting on the table while a frozen coffee dripped condensation all over the surface. It looked like she had tasted it and hated it.

No surprise there. Why she didn't just stick with what she knew she liked he'd never understand.

Keeping one eye on her, Sesshoumaru made his way to the barista counter to place his order. If it was going to be one of those days, at least there was the promise of coffee.

A small sniffle echoed in his ears from across the café, and his concern spiked. It was definitely going to be one of those days.

He pulled his wallet out of his scrubs.

"Whatcha havin', Hon?"

Hon.

Sesshoumaru refrained from grinding his teeth right then and there. "Yes, hello. Could I—"

"Oooooh! You're British!" she squealed, eyes lighting up.

For the millionth time since moving to America, he silently cursed the fact that he had learned to speak English when they lived in London back in the early 1900s. Here in the American South, it tended to stir up excitement and usually when it was inconvenient.

He also had to perpetuate the lie.

"I am."

The barista's nose wrinkled. "You don't really look British though."

"Mixed heritage," he said flatly, the tang of Kagome's tears in the background doing nothing to help his mood. "Now, if you do not mind—"

"Exotic one, ain't ya?" A saccharine grin he knew was intended as something else flashed up at him as she leaned over the register, and he felt his temper rising as she blatantly looked him over. "Doctor too, huh?"

"Nurse," he ground out, glancing over his shoulder once more. Still a mess. "Can I please—"

"What part of England ya from?"

He slammed his credit card down on the register. "The saarf of married. And I will 'ave wahn french press and a vanilla and brahn sugar latte for 'ere."

The girl's eyes widened, and he cringed.

"Your accent changed!"

Glaring, he took a deep breath. "That is because the Cockney breaks free when I am irritated."

Not appreciative of his honesty or annoyance, the barista huffed. "Well, I didn't understand a word ya said. You're gonna have to—"

A hand, soft and familiar, settled on his shoulder, and he looked down to see nothing more than the top of a very pink hat.

What is she wearing?

Kagome didn't seem to mind her fashion choices. "He said he'll have one French press and a vanilla and brown sugar latte for here." She held up her finger. "And he's married."

The barista suddenly turned red, eyes narrowing to slits, and Sesshoumaru didn't understand why until he looked down.

"That's not your ring finger," the girl spat.

Kagome blinked innocently. "Is it not? My mistake." She threw a fake grin across the counter. "You can bring those to our table over there when they're done. Thanks."

Without another look at the barista, she took his arm and led him over to her table, and any previous humor disappeared from her face as he seated her.

"And here I thought I had come to save you," he murmured, sitting across from her.

"Yeah, well." She offered him a wan smile and rubbed her temples. "You're gorgeous and sound like Mr. Darcy when you speak English." Fatigue seemed to settle more heavily over her then, and she leaned back in her seat. "It's not the first time I've had to save you, and it won't be the last."

Sesshoumaru ignored her compliments, his concern for her growing with each passing second. "It is no matter."

"It matters a bit," Kagome snorted and shot a withering glare over at the counter. "Your wedding ring isn't exactly invisible."

"No, I suppose it is not."

"There's no suppose about it."

Glancing down at his hand, Sesshoumaru took note of the band. It was simple, platinum like hers, and a patina had developed with the years. Sturdy but worn with time.

Like us. "When did we get these?"

"1966," she said, dropping her voice lower as she answered.

Nodding thoughtfully, he spun the band around his finger. "Perhaps it is time to replace them."

Kagome held her hand out in front of her, staring at her finger critically. "They're starting to look a little rough, aren't they?"

"Platinum dulls quite easily."

"Yeah, but it was popular."

He offered her a small smile. "We are amassing quite a collection now."

She didn't smile back.

It wasn't a good sign. Sighing, Sesshoumaru leaned forward. "I would ask if something were wrong"—he paused and set his phone between them—"but it is not every day Miss May calls and tells me I should come home from work."

Guilt reddened Kagome's cheeks, and she pulled the wide-brimmed, pink hat lower over her face. "Miss May is the worst kind of tattletale."

Sesshoumaru chuckled and took her hand in his. "Start with the bubblegum-colored monstrosity sitting on your head."

A little pout pursed her lips as her free hand drifted up to the hat. "Monstrosity?"

"There are feathers, fake flowers, and I cannot see your eyes without a shadow obscuring them. So, yes. Monstrosity."

She smiled a little at that. "I tried to join the Red Hat Ladies Society."

That wasn't the answer he was expecting, and he failed at hiding his shock. "You did what?"

Her smile turned sheepish. "Tried to join the Red Hat Society."

Sesshoumaru stared at her over the table, his incredulity clear as day. "The older ladies' organization?"

"Hey!" Her indignation piqued underneath the hat. "It's not just for older ladies!"

It was his turn to massage his temples. "Explain."

Before she could, the barista—still scowling—came up to hand them their order, so she simply shrugged and waited for her to leave.

Shaking his head, he depressed the French press, waiting until the girl had returned to the counter to talk. "No. You do not walk around in public with a hat like that on your head without knowing why."

She deflected with a grin. "What? You don't think this is sexy?"

His brows raised as he poured. "No."

"Everyone's a critic."

"Kagome—"

"I don't know!" She threw her hands up in the air. "Midlife crisis?"

The café went quiet at her outburst, and Sesshoumaru mentally counted to ten.

Settling back into her chair self-consciously, Kagome winced. "I guess that was loud."

Sesshoumaru glared half-heartedly. "Perhaps a bit." The steady murmur of the café resumed, and he motioned to her latte. "Drink. You will feel better."

She didn't need to be told twice. Pushing the melting coffee drink aside, she took up the latte and sipped carefully. "Much better," she groaned. Licking foam from her lip, she pushed the frozen drink further away for good measure. "This is so delicious. Why didn't I just order this?"

"Have not the faintest."

Taking another sip, she shook her finger at him. "Don't let me come here alone. I make bad decisions."

"Kagome."

"What?"

"Hat ladies."

"Oh." She frowned then, looking down into her drink before glancing back up and wrinkling her nose at him. "Do we have to?"

He pinched the bridge of his and poured a cup from the French press. "Why are you still stalling?"

"Because it's embarrassing." Averting her gaze, she focused once again on her drink. "And maybe a little ungrateful."

"Ungrateful?"

She sighed and set her cup down as he picked up his. "Long life—me living like I have—that was a gift."

Sesshoumaru swallowed down a sip, a deluge of memories rushing to the surface. "There was more to it than that."

"Okay, yes, but it was still a gift." She looked at him meaningfully. "Even if unexpected."

"Your point?"

Twisting the plunger on his press, her eyes focused on the dark liquid within. "I'm over four hundred years old but still healthy. Fit. Young."

A small smirk lifted the corners of his lips. "You are far from young."

"But I look it." Kagome sat back then and looked down at her hands, frowning. "Mid-twenties if what people say is true."

"They are not wrong."

"Yeah, well, do you know how annoying that is?" Her eyes flashed, and she sniffled lightly. "I have little in common with 'people my age.'" She wiped away a sudden tear. "Most are either focused on a career, getting married or looking to, having babies, or just looking for a little fun."

"Not all of them."

"No," she conceded. "But we can't call Shippou ours in public, I already have a zillion rings, and getting laid isn't an issue." Huffing out a breath while focused on her cup, she shook her head and raised her brows. "Not with you."

He laughed, and a tiny smile peeked back up at him. "Perhaps it is better if we discuss that later." His head tilted slightly to the table on their left where a pair of older ladies having lunch tried to appear innocent.

Kagome scoffed. "First the barista and now biddies."

"That is rude."

"So is eavesdropping." She looked pointedly past him. "And ogling."

One of the women choked on her drink.

"Nonetheless"—he threw her own pointed look back at her—"you mentioned a red hat. That is pink."

Folding her arms, she groaned and dropped her head down onto them. "Don't remind me."

"Why is it not red?"

Her head turned sideways over her elbow, and she scowled. "Because I'm not fifty."

"Fifty?" he asked, eyes widening slightly.

"You heard me." She sat up again, ripped the hat off her head, and tried to fluff her hair. "I'm too young for the red hat. So, if I want to hang out with women who might understand a bit more of where I am in life, I have to do so with the reminder that I'm still the odd one out." Her lips turned downward, and she yanked the hat back down over her hair.

"And the oversized purple shirt?"

"It's lavender, thank you." Her frown deepened. "Purple isn't allowed until your fifty either." Burying herself once again in her drink, she drained at least half of it before she spoke again. "And this was the only one I could find on short notice."

"Apparently, all this upset you enough for May to call."

Kagome's lips pinched together. "I might have had a meltdown." Finishing off her drink, she sniffled again. "A tiny one."

"Hn." He lifted his cup and took a sip. "Does 'tiny' include crying enough to soak through May's cardigan?"

She cringed. "She told you that?"

"She was concerned for you." The last of the press filled his cup, and he laced his fingers together, setting his chin on them. "Still is. She mentioned bringing dinner by tonight."

Fresh tears shimmered, and she looked away. "May doesn't need to do that."

"She insists."

Unable to keep them at bay any longer, a single salty droplet rolled down her cheek. "I don't deserve her."

"Merit is not her concern."

"No, I guess it's not." Kagome picked up her drink again and swallowed a mouthful before getting lost in her thoughts.

Sesshoumaru waited, letting her think. She continued taking small sips of her latte, eyes cast downward with her brow creased as the thoughts ran through her head. He could see her consternation, feel the heaviness that still lingered about her. There were still moments of sniffles, and she hadn't yet relinquished the flamboyant hat on her head, but she had concerns to work through, and he could wait.

"Do you need another?" he asked, motioning to her drink.

"No." Her smile as she looked up at him was thin, but she reached out and squeezed his hand. "Thanks."

The café met its lunch hour rush as she continued to think, the noise and flurry of movement increasing with the crowd, but he was in no hurry to fight it. Giving in to the urge to slouch in his seat, he sank down, legs stretching out underneath the table to frame hers.

A wry smile peeked up at him. "Getting comfortable?"

Picking up his coffee, he hid his face in his cup and trapped her ankles between his. "Maybe."

Her levity lasted another second before the intense concentration from before once again took over her features, her teeth worrying her bottom lip. "Sesshoumaru?"

"Hm?" Angry voices rose over the café's din, and his eyes drifted to the bar where a customer was having it out with their barista from earlier. Not entirely surprising.

"I want to tell May."

"What?" His attention snapped back to Kagome, and he straightened in his seat, eyes narrowing. "Absolutely not."

"Hear me out—"

"It is out of the question."

If she hadn't already finished her drink, her look said he'd be wearing it, and her eyes narrowed back at him. "You don't get to say no until you hear me out."

"We have discussed this many times before."

"Not about May." Lips pursing, her jaw set in that stubborn way that said there would be a fight before she gave in, and she looked him straight in the eye. "May is different, and you know it. She loves you. She won't care."

His teeth clenched for a moment, and he looked away. "She loves a human perception, Kagome." Shaking his head, he looked back at her. "The truth is more than humans today can fathom."

"You're selling us humans a little short."

"You are advocating we tell a religious old woman who you attend church with that your husband is a demon—"

"Youkai are not Biblical demons."

"—and that there exist possibilities outside of her worldview as she knows it." He could feel the muscles in his face tighten as his frustration deepened. "That is not a small thing for anyone."

"I still think May could handle it."

He dragged his hand down his face. "Kagome—"

"Sesshoumaru." Her voice thickened with tears as she leaned over the table and lowered her voice. "I need someone I can talk to about everything I have to keep bottled up. I'm tired of feeling like there's always distance between me and anyone I call friend." She smacked the table, and the press rattled with the force. "The age stuff makes that bad enough."

Stilling the shaking press, he arched a brow. "And what makes you think she will believe you?"

"Because she's May." She sat back then and dropped her eyes to the table. "And I think she loves us enough to listen."

"And if she doesn't believe you?"

Stubborn, she lifted her chin. "She will if she sees you."

He glared.

"Don't look at me like that. You hate hiding what you are day in and day out."

"And yet I do it because it is the wiser decision."

"Martin knows what you are."

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, his lips pursed, and he folded his arms across his chest. "That was unavoidable. And we were very lucky."

"Yeah." She looked down, pulling apart the napkin in her hands. "Who would have thought you'd be allergic to something like kiwi?" She scrunched her nose. "Or that epinephrine would turn you into a psycho."

"Dramatic, Miko?"

"I'm not being dramatic. You were plastered to the ceiling exorcist-style. Snarling." Snickering, she stole his mug and took a sip. "I'll never forget the look on Martin's face. But he still got you sedated before you drew a crowd."

Sesshoumaru could only dip his head and concede the point. That it had been the Kenyan man on shift when the incident happened had been fortunate. Many would not have been so accepting.

Looking down at his blunted nails, he reached out, drumming them against the mug she still held. "Martin is a rare individual."

"Yeah." Her eyes grew distant with memory, amusement taking over her mouth, but she shook it off a moment later and tweaked his thumb. "Still, no more kiwi."

He smirked and mouthed, no kiwi.

"And May?"

His jaw ticked, but the hopeful expression she shot his way quashed his irritation. "We will talk about it."

Kagome did what could only be deemed a victory dance in her seat, all the sillier with that hat on her head, and he fought the urge to roll his eyes. "I did not say yes."

"Didn't say no though," she sing-songed.

He took his coffee back. "Hn."

Positively sparkling, she grinned at him, her chin in her hands. "Hn."

Before he could gripe at her, a feather slipped down into her face, and he automatically reached up to massage away a spiking headache. "That hat must go."

"Nuh-uh. I spent at least an hour on it."

"It is not coming into the house."

"I texted a picture to Shippou. He said it was great."

"Shippou lies." He finished his coffee, forcing himself not to grimace when it was cold. "Proficiently."

Jaw dropping in feigned shock, she let her little gag drag out for a moment before finally taking the hat off. "I'll pretend you didn't say that." But as the hat dropped to her lap, her humor disappeared, and she reached across the table, taking his hand. "I'm glad you came."

Sesshoumaru didn't say anything at first. Simply covered her hand in both of his, fingertips tracing soft skin as her tension bled away. It wasn't resolved; matters like this took time. And he knew this one would linger until she uncovered it in every corner of her mind before breaking over it once more. But when she did, he would be there.

Humming thoughtfully, he lifted her hand and kissed it, not dropping her eyes. "Always, Miko."

Something that sounded suspiciously like aw echoed from that table to their left.

Kagome threw those busy-bodied older women a watery blue glare. "We should go." She stood, stretching before dumping her hat in the trash. "Smells like a dead unicorn in here anyway."

Sesshoumaru pushed out his chair, chuckling as he did.

"What is it?"

A smile. "Nothing."


A/N: More married life because these two make me happy. A special shoutout to Lady Goshawk for her continued beta help! Love you, friend! I appreciate you so much!

Thank you, everyone, for reading. If you enjoyed, please consider feeding an author's soul and leaving your feedback! I hope that this finds you all safe in the middle of all the crazy still going on across the world. More to come soon! Muah!